Chain



Ocf. 13, 1925.

N. J. KLEIN ET AL CHAIN Filed July 19, 1923 @1 9 .1. 2,5 I J; f 16 z; :7 a

Patented Oct. 13, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

NICHOLAS J'. KLEIN AND JAMES G. LAW, OF SUB/ANTON, PENNSYLVANIA ASSIGNORS TO VVILMOT ENGINEERING COMPANY, OF HAZLETON, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORA- TIGN OF PENNSYLVANIA.

GHAIN.

- Application filed July 19, 1923. Serial No. 652,567.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, NIoHonAs J. KLEIN and JAMES C. LAW, citizens of the United States, and residents of Scranton, in the county of Lackawanna and State of Pennsylvania, have invented an Improvement J11 Chains, of which the. following is specification. j

In the use of power chains as conveyors, particularly in connection with the handling of coal, or for other purposes, the pintles by means of which the links are pivot-ally connected as well as the portions of the links with which the pintles engage become worn so that the pitch of the chain is altered which interferes with the satisfac tory operation of the chain.

One of the objects of our invention is to provide novel means whereby after the portions of the chain structure, as above indicated, have become worn the defect thus brought about may be to a large extent overcome and eliminated.

A further object of the invention is to provide a chain of novel construction com prising means whereby adjacent links may be more readily connected with and disconnected from each other than heretofore has been practical in so far aswe are aware.

A further objectof the invention is to provide a chain of novel construction which is simple in its structure and relatively very strong and durable.

We shall not undertake at this point to point out all of the various objects and advantages of our invention, but other and further objects will be pointed out in the detailed description thereof which follows or will be apparent from such description.

In order that the invention may be readily understood and its practical advantages fully appreciated, reference may be had to the accompanying drawing in which we have illustrated aconvenient form of embodiment thereof. However, it will be understood that changes inthe details of construction may be made within the scope of the claims without departing from our invention.

In the drawing: 7 Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a sectionor portion of chain constructed in amordance with our invention;

Fig. 2 is a view partly in top planaud partly in horizontal section;

. said link.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged View of a fraginentary portion of a chain structure embodying our invention and in which the wear of the pintle and the portions of the ends of the chain links in engagement therewith are shown;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line H of Fig. in which the wear of the said parts is more clearly shown;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to that. shown in Fig. 3 but with the pintle shown in reversed position;

Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5;

'Fig. 7 is a perspective View of a pintle with the heads thereon before the same has been used; and

Fig. 8 is a view in side elevation of one end portion of a chain link indicating by dot and dash lines the wear effected by the frictional contact between a plntle and the Referring to the drawing: 1 and 2 designate the side bars of chain links WhlCll are arranged alternately with respect to single links 3. The said side bars constitute alternate double links of the chain and each 1 side baris provided with openings, as indicated at 4, the outer ends of which openings are circular, as indicated at- 5. As indicated in the drawing the openings 4; are separated from each other but it will be understood that the said openings may be shorter than shown or they may be extended so as to join each other and thereby constitute a single opening- Each of the side bars 1 and 2 is also provided with an inwardly extending projecting or enlarged portion 6. In other words. the central portions of the side barsl and 2 are thinner than the outer end portions thereof. The in wardlyextending thickened portions of the outer ends, are joined to the inner surfaces of the central portions of the said side bars by means of inclined shoulder portions, as indicated at 7.

The side bar 1 is provided with lugs 10 and 11, the lug 10 being situated adjacent the right hand end of the said bar and also adjacent the bottom edge thereof. while the lug 11 is situated adjacent the left hand end thereof and adjacent the upper edge thereof. The side bar 2 is provided with lugs 12 and 13, the former being situated adjacent the right hand and of the said edge.

bar and adjacent the upper edge thereof, while the latter is situated adjacent the left hand end thereof and adjacent the lower It will be observed, therefore that the lugs 10 and '11 are situated in reverse position with respectto the lugs 12 and 113.

The alternate single links 3 are slotted, as indicated at 15, and the opposite ends of the said slots are circular, as indicated at 16. The adjacent overlapping ends of the single and double links are adapted to be pivotally connected together by means of pintles 20 which are of cylindrical form. The said pintles are providedwith heads21 which may be described, it is believed, with sufficient accuracy as being of rectangular shape.

Each of the heads 21 is provided with a notch or cut-away portion,as indicated at 25. The cut-away portion or notch '25 in the edge-of one of the said heads is situatedadjacent one end thereof, while the cut-away portion or notch in the other of said heads is situated at the opposite end thereof. iln other words,'the cut-away portions are situated in diagonal relation with respect 'to each other. This arrangement is provided, for example, in order that when-the chain is new the lug 10 (see Fig. 2 of the drawing) may occupy a position in one of the said notches, while the *lug 12 (see Fig. -1 of the drawing) will at the same time occupy a position in the other of said notchesor cutaway portions.

This is the relative position occupied by the heads of the pintles and the lugs when the chain is new "and when the pintle is of cylindrical form. It will be noted "that the opposite sides 30 of the respective headsare straight and are not provided with notches or depressi'ons of any kind or character whatsoever.

As =already intimated, the pintles, when newyare of cylindrical =forrn,as is indicated in Figs. 1 and 2 of tlie draw-ing.

After the chain has been used for a period of time, the length of which depends upon conditions of use, the pintles become worn as do also the circular end portions of the slots 4': and 5 of the side bars 1 and 2 of the double links and the slot 160i the sin gle links 3. The wear of the pintles is :clearly indicated in Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawing. Such wear is best shown perhaps in Fig. 4. It will be seen "that the portion of the pintle which is in engagement with the'single link '3 is worn'downsoas 'to form shoulders as indicatedat 31. The opposite 'side of :the central portion *of the pintle remains unworn, as indicated at 32. 'The opposite the worn down portions thereof are unaffected. It will be understood also that the portions of the links which are in contact W-itlrthe pin'tles are likewise worn. To have undertaken to indicate the amount of this wear iniconnection with the side bar 2 day the dash and dot line in Fig. 8.

It will be understood that after a chain has beenused until the pintles and the links have become worn, as indicated in Figs. 3 to 6 and 8, the pitch becomes different from what it was originally or when new, so that the satisfactory operation of the chain is somewhat interfered with. In order to restore to a very considerable extent the chain to its original condition the 'pintles are turned through angles of one hundred and eighty degrees so that the straight sides or edges 30 0f the -l1eads'21 are turned into position to'contact with theouter edgesor en'dsotthe lugs 10, 511, 12and 130i the side bars 1 and 2 of the respective double lin'ks. By thus 'turning the pintlesthe'un-worn por- "tions 32 thereof are placed in contact with the outer ends-of the slots of the single links 3, 'while the unworn portions 34 are placed in contact with the outer ends of the slots .4- in the side bars 1 and 20f "the alternate double links.

By positioning the lugs 10 and 11 and 1 2 and 13 upon the side bars '1 and 2,-as'-shown, the pintles are prevented from turning with respect to the sidebars land 2 of the double links and thereby are prevented trom being accidentally displaced :or removed from ;the slots with wh'ie'h'theyare engaged. In other words, the heads 21 are heldin transverse relation to the slots 4 oftheside bars lzand For the purpose of turning the gpintles froin the position shown in Figs. 1lto 4 to the positions shown in Figsxoandfi theadjacent "links are adjusted with respect to each other so that the thickened portions '6 are carried beyond the shoulders of the single links 3 i or, in other words, the relative :positions of the overlapping end portions of the bars 1 and 2 and the single :links '3 are changed so that the enlarged endfportion of the single link occupies fa position between ithe' rela'tively [thin portions of the sidebars l and'Q. This permits the'side bars "to flee anoved itowa'rd each other. 'lvhen the bars are unoved or "adjusted to their innerinost :position the vertical distance lbetween the planes including the outer sides of the lugs 10 :and :12, for instance, .is 11855 ithan the distance between the inner surfaces Of the heads21. It is apparent'thatwhenIthe side bars are in this position the pintle may be turned to reverse or change its iposition as above described.

To :remove a pintle or :the ipurpose of disconnecting any two adjacent links of ithe chain the links are collapsed longitudinally and laterally to permit the turning of the til pintles into'positions so that the heads 21 thereof extend longitudinally with respect to the slots 4 and 15. When in this position the heads maybe passed through the said 'slots and the pintles removed. In similar manner the links may be connected, the only difference in the operation being that the pintles are inserted through the said slots instead of being removed therefrom.

Having thus described our .inventlon, what we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A chain comprising alternate single and double links having slots extending horizontally therethrough adjacent their opposite ends, each of the said bars of each double link being provided with outwardly extending projections, one projection being situated near one end adjacent one edge thereof and the other projection being situated near the opposite end adjacent the opposite edge thereof, and pintles extending through said slots and pivotally connecting the links together, said pintles each having heads upon their opposite ends for retaining said pintles in engagement with said links, each head having a notch in one of its edges at one end thereof.

2. A chain comprising alternate single and double links, the said links having slots extending horizontally therethrough, each side bar of each double link being provided with an outwardly extending projection near each end, one of said projections being adjacent one edge thereof and the other of said projections being adjacent the opposite edge thereof, and the projections at the opposite ends of one of the said bars being in reverse position with respect to the projections of the other of said bars of each link, and pintles extending through said slots for pivotally connecting the links of said-chain together, each of said pintles being provided with heads at its opposite ends for retaining the same within said slots which heads are each provided with a notch in one edge at one end thereof, the end of one head in which the notch is provided being oppositely related to the end of the other head in which the notch is provided.

3. A chain comprising alternate single and double links, each of which is provided with slots extending therethrough adjacent their opposite ends and each of the side bars of each double link being provided with an outwardly extending projection near each end, one projection being situated adjacent one edge and the other projection being situated adjacent the opposite edge, and pintles extending through said slot, each of which pintles is provided with heads at its opposite ends for retaining the said pintles in place within said slots, and each of the said heads being provided with a notch in one edge adjacent one end thereof, the said notches being situated in diagonal relation with respect'to the axes of :the respective pintles.

.4. A chain comprising alternate single and double links, whichlinks are each provided with slots extending horizontally therethrough and the said single links terminating inenlarged head-likeportions and the side bars of each of the double links being provided with enlargements upon their inner sides adjacenttheir opposite ends, the said enlargements being adapted to overlap the head-like portions ofthe said solid links, and the said side bars ofythef respective double links being adapted to be moved or adjusted toward each other when the said single and double links are collapsed longitudinally with respect to each other, and the side bars of each double link being provided at each end with an outwardly extending projection, the projection upon one side bar of each double link being in reverse position with respect to the projections upon the opposite ends of the opposite side bar of said link, and pintles situated in the said slots, which pintles are provided with heads at their opposite ends for retaining the said pintles within said slots, each of said heads being provided with a notch in one edge at one end thereof, and one end of one head of each pintle being adapted to contact with a projection upon one of the said side bars and the opposite end of the opposite head being adapted to contact with the reversely iltlllilted projection upon the opposite side 5. A chain comprising alternate single and double links, said links each having slots adjacent their opposite ends for the reception of pintles for pivotally connecting said links, each of the side bars of each double link being provided with an outwardly extending projection near each end, one projection being adjacent one edge and the other projection being adjacent the opposite edge, and the projections upon one side bar of each double link being in reverse position with respect to the projections upon the other side bar, and the said pintles, which pintles are provided with heads at their opposite ends, one head of each pintle being provided with a notch in one edge adjacent one end and the other head being provided with a notch at its 0pposite end in the corresponding edge, one of the said notches being adapted to engage one of the said projections at one end of the end bar of the double link, and the other of said notches being adapted to engage the reversely positioned projection of the opposite side bar of the link.

6. A chain comprising alternate single and double links, said links being provided with slots extending horizontally therethrough, the side bars of each double link being ipnovide'd "with :an :outward projection mear 'eaeh end, zone coflsaid projections being adjacent one edge and the other of said :proijec'tions dieing adjacent the opposite edge and ethe projeetiens mpon none side bar ref Teach idoubl'e link ib'ein'g situated in reverse position with irespect tothe IPIOj'QCtiOIlS aip'on -the pp0site side dear, and p'intles situated within said slot for :pivota lly connecting the sa-i'd ilin'ks together, said 'pintles eadh bemg provided with heads at their *opposite \ends, each off which headsis provided with a ntiteh =in one edge adj aeent an end thereo f, the "said notches being situated in diago- 11713.1 'iI'BlHitiOl'l with respect to :the "axis -d'f :the rpintle, and theisaidrnotches'being'adapted to engage the said :pIfOjGCtiOIIS, and the said 'pinties :being adapted :to she turned through angles of one hundred :and eighty degrees whereby the opposite zunnotehed sides of said :heads are adapted to contact with said projections.

In testimony that We claim the foregoing as our l1nvent10n, we :have diereunto :signed 'NIeHeIJA-s a. KLEIN. JAMES C. LAW. 

